The Halloween costume photos in most people's shoeboxes are undeniably some of the most disappointing photos ever taken. Gore-dripping zombies standing in frilly pink bedrooms, washed-out faces from over-bright flashes, studio quality Halloween costumes photographed with the subject wearing tennis shoes, subjects standing awkwardly straight against a door...the list goes on and on of the possible Halloween costume photo disasters.
For the love of all things creepy don't make those mistakes again. These Halloween costume photo tips will help you get Halloween photos you are proud of this year. And you don't need thousands of dollars worth of studio equipment to do it, just a little planning and creativity.
Backgrounds
Make the background fit the costume. Even a studio quality Klingon costume is going to look goofy if you photograph it standing in a 21st century living room while ducking to avoid the ceiling fan. If you can not find a background suitable for your costume, use a completely blank wall or a
homemade backdrop so that the background does not detract from the costume. If that isn't possible then show as little background as possible in the photo.
Ideas for Backgrounds by Costume Type
- Space/Future
Reflective surfaces or abstract art statues in shiny colors. Many cities have silver-toned abstract art sculptures that provide wonderful shapes and textures behind a space or future themed costume. Large glass windows reflecting the light work also work well for a nonspecific background for this theme.
- Apocalypse/Zombies/War Characters
Decay is the key with this theme. Rusty abandoned train cars, abandoned buildings, burned out cars, anything that fits the idea of decay works great for this theme. Just be careful when seeking out these types of backgrounds.
- Fairies/Sprites/Mythological Creatures
Parks, waterfalls, flowers, lakes, any "pristine" outdoor setting works for this theme. Early morning light or fog adds to the atmosphere. Avoid any man-made objects in these backgrounds.
- Monsters/Witches/Vampires
Abandoned buildings, weeping willow branches, or weathered wooden/stone walls work to give some atmosphere to these costumes in general. Work with the type of character for more specific backgrounds. A swamp monster needs moss behind it, a witch needs a secluded glade or ramshackle house, vampires need a graveyard with old-style headstones.
- Cowboys/Princesses/Pirates
Like their scarier counterparts, these Halloween standards need costume-specific backgrounds. Cowboys need a barn or horses, princesses need a ballroom (or a tower window to lean out of), pirates need a ship deck, a marina in the background, or an old style jail cell to languish in. For less specific backgrounds this category of costume can use old buildings for a background or an outdoor park. Pick flowery and bright areas for a princess but rocky areas or areas with lots of dead limbs for the pirate or cowboy to add a more rugged feel.
Fill the Frame
Don't be afraid to use a tight crop. If the face of the costume is the best part then fill the frame with the face. If you are taking a full length photo then fill the frame with the subject. Don't leave a lot of external space around the costume unless you specifically want a particular background to show. Costumes in large gatherings, at parties, and other found situations work much better when you fill the frame so that the costume stays the center of attention without distraction.
Watch the Flash
No more washed out auto-flash photos please! Think about whether or not you need a flash. If your subject is willing it is often better to use a slower shutter speed (with stable camera support of course) and ask the subject to be still a moment than use flash. If you must use flash though, please use good
fill flash techniques.
Add Some Props
Haunt your local thrift/charity store to find some great low cost props for your costume photos. Strange goblets, unique jewelry, creepy dolls, even lassos or fog machines can often be found for very little cash at these stores and they add a lot to your Halloween photos.
Shoes
Please, please, PLEASE don't wear sneakers with your costume unless you're dress as a marathon runner for Halloween. If you must wear sneakers then please don't include your feet in the Halloween costume photos. Stand behind something low or use a 3/4 length crop. You don't want to cut off the photo at the ankles (never crop at a joint) but a less than full length photo is better than Darth Vader wear white tennis shoes.
Pose
Don't let your subject just stand there as you take the photo. Have your subject pose like the character they are portraying. Hellboy might point his prop gun at the camera while grinning lopsidedly. Neytiri would do well to hiss for the camera. Superman could plant his hands on his hips, puff up his chest, and look insufferably pleased with himself. Lady GaGa might...well, the more contorted the pose the better and that's all we'll say for that costume. The point is that whatever costume you are photographing, it will most likely look better if the pose fits the costume.
Break the Rules of Good Photography
Halloween is a great time to play with breaking the rules of "good" photography. Proper
exposure can be thrown out the window in favor of dark scenes and harsh directional lighting. Turn up the film speed and embrace the
noise/grain in the photo. Halloween is a time when the "normal" rules don't apply. Experiment and see what happens.
Try a Special Process
Consider HDR, sepia, black and white, or other editing processes to add a punch to your Halloween costume photos. Try a plug in program like
Lo-Fi to add odd color cast or scratches to your photo. Let your Halloween photos try on their own costumes for a really special shot.
